The portents are good for Arjun Sharma.
If he stands a chance to push for a breakthrough on PGTI, it has to be here and now at the Digboi Golf Links.
The closest Arjun has come in quest of that elusive W was at Coimbatore in August, where he finished a shot short of winner Khalin Joshi.
Related: Yuvraj Sandhu picks up from where he left off in Digboi
That sole second was affirmation enough that he had the craft to win on Tour. It was now about putting together four solid rounds. The attempts since then hold out hope, but more needs to be done.
“I need to start well in order to finish it off,” is the analysis. A look at the stats indeed show that Arjun has struggled to catch up when the week isn’t begun well.
No such issues at the IndianOil Servo Masters. Arjun started with a 66 and followed it with a 68 to be one off the lead.
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Couple it with his memories of this golf course; a potent potion is brewing. Essentially a course that aids fade players like him, the layout is pleasing to the eye and reflects in his scores. Arjun won here as an amateur and his best finish before the sole second in Coimbatore came here in his rookie year (2015, 8th).
The force is with him, all Arjun needs is to guard against a slip and “play smart”, his new strategy to stay up the leaderboard.
Yuvraj Sandhu continues his march
Reigning champion Yuvraj Singh Sandhu maintained his one-shot lead at the halfway stage after he returned a determined two-under 70 on Thursday.
Arjun Sharma struck a 68 to be placed second.
Sri Lankan Anura Rohana (71) occupied third place at nine-under 135 while Aalaap I L (68) was in fourth place at eight-under 136.
Order of Merit leader Yuvraj (63-70), a 10th tee starter on Thursday, made yet another promising start with an early birdie on the 12th but then stumbled with a bogey on the 13th where he found the hazard and a double-bogey on the 14th where his ball was plugged in the bunker behind a tree.
Yuvraj, a four-time winner on PGTI this year, finally bounced back with a birdie on the 15th and a solid front-nine where he made an 18-footer for eagle on the seventh and another birdie on the ninth after recovering from the bunker.
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Yuvraj said, “When I started off today the body was a little colder so I was struggling with my ball-striking. Importantly, I hung in there today. I’ll now try to get plenty of rest after today’s round in order to recover fully for the last two rounds.
“The eagle putt on the seventh was a saviour and the finishing birdie on the ninth was also a confidence-booster.
“I do feel comfortable at this course based on my experience from last year. It’s easy to find trouble here but one should know which side to miss the green.”
Among prominent names Udayan Mane and Manu Gandas were tied 11th at five-under 139 while Khalin Joshi was tied 25th at three-under 141.
